'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎57r] (118/312)

The rest of the water emerges from a narrow rocky gorge in the ridge to
the right. This spring, from which an enormous supply comes, is another
instance of the abundant water-supply of the Sulaimaniah valley. We
now reached the head of the valley, which we followed since Sulaimaniah, the
end being closed by a rocky cluster of hills with steep sloping sides called
the Sarka Kailkusma Dagh. Bearing west, the Tabin river enters a narrow
valley bordered by steep hills, and joins the Zab lower down. A track leads
by this valley to Kirkuk, two days distant. To the north-east of the Sarka
Kailkusma Dagh is the Sardasht valley, 2 to 3 miles wide, which we now
entered.
The better road leads along the foot of the ridge, but we turned up east
to Sardasht, which we reached, at 16 miles, after a rough ascent.
Saudasht. —This is a small place of 100 houses, divided into two clusters
of houses by a knoll
Immediately behind rises the Askut Dagh, a steep wall of rock with a
jagged summit, running north-west and south-east, a continuation to the
Pir-a-Magdurin range. It rises 2,000 to 2,500 feet perpendicularly above
Sardasht—that is, 5,200 to 5,700 above sea level.
Near the village is an old fort or enclosure, bounded at the back by
the cliff and in front by a loopholed masonry wall 15' to 20'high, with towers
at intervals, and encloses a space round a small spring in the centre of about
500 by 400 yards. The interior slopes up, and could be commanded from
below and the walls are in ruins, and in places levelled. This was an outpost
of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Rawanduz's territory when independent Kurdish chiefs ruled
this country. A Kaimmakam under Sulaimaniah lives here now.
Water is from some fine springs from the foot of the rock, and irrigates
some vineyards and orchards in terraces below.
Weather cool and pleasant. Temperature 60° at noon. Heavy thunder
storm, lasting only half an hour, came on in the evening.
This Sardasht must not be confused with another place of the same name
on the Persian frontier, about 30 miles to the north-east across the mountains.
18 th May. —General direction, N. Left Sardasht. Started down the
valley to rejoin the main road which ran along the bottom. Track rough and
stony, crossed by several deep ravines from the Askut Dagh to the right.
Gaichina .—At 4| miles pass through Gaichina (2,555'), a small village
surrounded by fruit orchards and vineyards in a ravine, part of which had been
burnt last year by the Hamawands. Several small clusters of houses were
perched on the sides of these ravines. On the slope of the Sarka Kailkusma
Dagh six villages were seen on the upper slopes, which are rounded and thickly
wooded with low oaks.
Khanikhan .— Reach the bottom of the valley near Khanikhan (1,900'), a
village in a thick cluster of orchards, and then followed the line of a small
stream towards the Zab. We rejoined the valley road through Kan-i-Miran here.
Lesser Zab River. —Following a narrow track over some shaly strata, at
10| miles reached the left bank of the Zab. Downstream it bends south-west
through a very narrow valley bordered by steep rounded hills.
Kala Dukhan .—On the opposite bank are a series of rounded spurs from a
ridge higher up, which jut steeply into the water. On one of these is Kala
Dukhan, a masonry fort some 50 yards square, loopholed, with around tower at
each corner. This was another outpost of the old Pashas of Rawanduz.
Dukhan Ferry .—Follow a grassy stretch along the bank, and at 13i miles
(1,155') reach Dukhan, where a raft ferry is kept up. Dukhan itself is only a
khan surrounded by a few huts.